PUSHING FORWARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4970, 10 September 1918, Page 5

PUSHING FORWARD.

“ENZEDS” PURSUE THE CHASE.

HUNS TAKE TO THEIR HEELS.

EPISODES IN THE FIGHTING

(By Cable.) (Special from the Official War Corres-

pondent). . September 3. tins morning [ really lived,” he words, were spoken by on© of our fighting Brigadiers in headquarters under a hank near a broken village, into which he had just moved. He was Referring to the hurried retreat ot the enemy away beyond Uapljj,epurt and Bertincourt, in the direcuon ot the famous Hindenburg line Ihe long-limbed New Zealanders «xr, chasing them eager to get in contact again. The Germans had had enough of tins severe lighting and nf C n ta iCn -H’ tJICII ' hoels - The back o the resistance in this sector was bioken yesterday afternoon, when at 1 o clock this Brigadier’s men-South wSib ,S 7 adva,JCed t in conjunction uith the troops on both flanks, under a magnificent barrage. Both officers and men said they had never seen a better barrage As a result of this the Otago and Canterbury men went right through the Hun positions with verv slight casualties, taking over 100 prisoners and Jo machineguns. In addition they estimate that they killed about 10U.

Between 2 and 3 in the afternoon machine gun fire was directed on our now position from the edge of the wood south of Haplincourt but the artillery was turned on to these enemy machine gunners and their firing ceased later.

About 9.30 p.m. the enemy fired 4.2 guns on to our trenches. That was his final effort with the artillery and the Otago’s and Canterbury’s added further to their toll of prisoners.

All yesterday we could see the enemy dumps going up in smoke, and there were fires well behind his lines. All night the sky was aglow. V ith th e break of dawn this morning our gallant men pushed on aga-'m. The Boche had gone from Haplincourt and the New Zealanders streamed through the wooded village like a pack of hounds, hot upon the scent.

In the morning some or us went across the battlefield and where the Otagos fought so splendidly we found the ground littered with German dead. They were lying about their hastily-dug machine gun positions, at the entrance of their dug-outs and in old-huts left by the British in the last German push and since occupied by the Germans. Retribution swift and sure had overtaken the enemy here. All about _ were rifles, machine guns, ammunition and equipment hurriedly abandoned.

On the edge of our sector was it hospital. It was- furnished with old beds and bedding left by the British in their last retreat. Two wounded Germans, still on stretchers, were left behind. There was even a sorely wounded German on the operating table. Nearby were the graves of Germans recently buried. Early this morning the enemy could be seen treking away 7 to safer ground. There was no artillery fire coining back from the German guns, but our own artillery was quickly on the move, following up the retreat. The infantry, pushing on, reached Bertincourt, pushed through it and on the further outskirts of the village again got in touch with the enemy. They had marched 7000 yards—a magnificent feat for troops that had been in battle all the previous day. Before noon the Brigadier and his staff were riding forward to the new headquarters. In the afternoon the New Ze<v land press representatives who had arrived at Divisoinal Headquarters were able to go over yesterday s battlefield and get- a glimpse of _ wai such as few if any civilian visitors have obtained on the Western front. They were able to push on to the fringes of Bertincourt, to see villages well behind the German lines, audio watch the enemy’s shells bursting over the position taken up by tueir stalwart countrymen. September 4.

Fresh Otago and Canterbury troops continued to advance to-day. They got through the village of RuyauL court without opposition and pushed on in front of the big Havrincourt Wood. At intervals they met with slight machine gun opposition but this was dealt with by our artillery, and as they continued to advance thev were opposed by a new i eser \ o division that was pushed down from Ivemmel. . TT - During these stirring days Headquarters are continually on the move, seldom staying more than two or three days in one place Urn: artillery flew close on the heels ot the infantry, and have been doing splendid work in getting their ammunition ut> bv horse transport, They na\ e even taken supplies well forward on their guns under the enemy machine &U ToSay there has been little fighting. September 6. Last evening the Otago troops still pushing forward, assisted in tin capture of the little village ot Bourienval and took 2o P^ so ’ To-day other troops from the> _ district rushed east of the a e lane taking trenches and captunn.-. between 60' and 70 prisoners.